The most current FAA Practical Test Standards in a handy cockpit-sized guides. Every PTS is written by the FAA and details the type and levels of skill and knowledge that must be demonstrated before an examiner can issue a certificate or rating to an applicant, and describes background study and reference materials.

New standards were released by the FAA and are effective January 2010. The following major enhancements were made in this revision of the Instrument Rating PTS:

Updated to reference current FAA publications.

New abbreviations section.

The "plan of action" is more thoroughly explained to include the
reference to scenarios.

Practical test requirements updated to reflect current rules.

Now clarifies use of GPS for navigation and approaches, and the
requirement for a GPS approach was added.

Approach terminology updated to include Precision Approach (PA),
Approach with Vertical Guidance (APV), and Nonprecision Approach (NPA);
requirements for their use is clarified.